Welcome to The Rival’s home for citizen journalism; the place for anyone to hone their writing skills, get creative, and add published work to their resume. Here’s how to get started:

Get writing!

Write about anything you want. Choose a topic you care about and put together 600 words (or less) in your authentic voice. Make it informative, entertaining, funny, opinionated, passionate, or some combination of all of the above. Don’t forget to proofread!

Headline it.

Give your work a title that makes the reader want to know more.

Provide an image.

Find a picture that will be associated with your work. Make sure that it’s legally acquired, AKA available for re-use from Google image or Flickr, or a photo you took yourself.

Send it in!

When you’re ready for your work to be reviewed, send it to our Contributing Editor Colin, at cfboucha@syr.edu. He will review your work and let you know if your article has been approved or not.

ABOVE ALL, HAVE FUN AND CARE ABOUT YOUR WORK!

Questions?

If you’re unsure about the process or want to pitch an idea before writing, feel free to email Colin with your questions!

Want to Keep Writing?

You can submit as often as you like – if we love what you do we may have a spot for you on our staff!

Thank you for sharing your skills with The Rival. We look forward to seeing your work!!

– See more at: http://www.rivaldc.com/contribute-today/#sthash.XHgfLnYb.dpuf

Despite the fact that life would be impossible to sustain without it, water is the world’s most overlooked and underappreciated component of our daily routines. It flows, both literally and figuratively, through every aspect of modern existence. Yet, we act arbitrarily towards water, taking it for granted as an immutable and infinite resource. Only when we discover that there are 663 million around the world who are without it do we come to acknowledge water as the precious resource it is.

The global community sought a way cure us of this indifference. As a result, at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Jainero, the states party to the conference recommended the establishment of a day to celebrate and remind the world of the absolute necessity of freshwater. Recognizing this need to provide universal access to clean water and to sustainably maintain water resources, the UN General Assembly designated March 22, 1993 the first annual World Water Day.

However, some remind themselves of the invaluable nature of water every day and want to encourage others to do the same, operating under the belief that if we can ideologically commit to the notion that clean water is a fundamental human right, it will strengthen our desire to help provide it universally.

That is the mission of Asepsis, a startup non-profit comprised of college students striving to engage with individuals and communities across the United States, calling them to take action and demand universal access to clean water. We aim to connect compassionate people in the U.S. to projects and organizations abroad, working on the frontlines of the water and sanitation crises through media campaigns and fundraising initiatives. This World Water Day, we at Asepsis need your help in reminding your friends, family, and other members of your community just how crucial access to clean water is.

The well is an essential part of any community. It’s the source of much more than just water, it fosters a sense of togetherness and sharing that forms the basis of empathy. However, a well without water becomes just a pit, a cruel reminder of the resource you are now devoid of. This is a tragedy but one we can all help prevent by helping to #FillTheWell.

‘Filling The Well’ requires all of us to acknowledge water as an elemental aspect of life, to conceptualize what life would be like without it, and most importantly, to take action, making others aware of the water crisis and contributing to efforts that seek to solve it. We believe that everyone can and should help #FillTheWell, so click here to take the next step.

Figuratively #FillTheWell with your support by posting a photo to our fundraising page using our #FillTheWell graphic, raising awareness for the 663 million worldwide who do not have access to clean water. Literally #FillTheWell by donating, helping us provide adequate sanitation and clean water services to communities around the world.